A North Lincolnshire MP visited Kosovo at the weekend to represent the UK Parliament at the celebrations to mark the tenth anniversary of the country’s independence.

During the visit, Martin Vickers, MP for Barton and Cleethorpes, delivered a letter from Prime Minister Theresa May to her opposite number Ramush Haradinaj.

The letter congratulated Kosovo on reaching this milestone and reflected on what had been achieved in a short time. Mrs May said that the UK is a friend and strong supporter of the country.

Martin Vickers at a meeting with the Speaker of Kosovo’s Parliament Kadri Veseli

Mr Vickers was accompanied at numerous events and meetings by the British Ambassador Ruairi O’Connell and Kosovo’s ambassador in London Lirim Greicevci.

On his return to the UK on Sunday (February 18), Mr Vickers, who along with Labour MP John Grogan is co-chairman of Parliament’s All Party Group for Kosovo, said that it was a pleasure to take part in the celebrations of a country that greatly admire Britain and are eager to develop closer economic and cultural ties.

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Whilst in Prishtina, Mr Vickers was contacted by Astrit Bunjaku, who had studied and worked in Cleethorpes and had met Mr Vickers at one of his constituency surgeries in 2011. He was granted a scholarship by the David Ross Foundation, studied at Havelock School and later attended university in London.

Mr Vickers said: "It was great to meet up with Astrit again; we are both Havelock Old Boys. He visits Cleethorpes most years to visit friends and the family he stayed with whilst here."

Martin Vickers with Astrit Bunjaku

Mr Vickers also visited British company Fox Marble who have extensive business interests in Kosovo.